Chief UN Arms Inspector Hans Blix landed in Cyprus this morning after a two-day visit to Iraq. He told reporters that he now feels "cautious optimism" in light of Iraqi willingness to cooperate. U.S. President Bush, however, said that the "change of heart" detected by Blix was "not good enough."
The Islamic group Ansar al-Islam - considered by the United States to be the link between Baghdad and Al Qaeda - assassinated a minister of the Kurdish parliament and two other government officials on Saturday night, and seized two hostages whose fate remained unknown. So reports The New York Times today. The team of gunmen, disguised as peace negotiators, also killed three civilians and wounded 12 other people - including an 8-year-old girl in grave condition - in the northern village of Qamesh Tapa. The United States military is taking steps to enlist the Kurds in a possible war against Saddam Hussein.
The Islamic group Ansar al-Islam - considered by the United States to be the link between Baghdad and Al Qaeda - assassinated a minister of the Kurdish parliament and two other government officials on Saturday night, and seized two hostages whose fate remained unknown. So reports The New York Times today. The team of gunmen, disguised as peace negotiators, also killed three civilians and wounded 12 other people - including an 8-year-old girl in grave condition - in the northern village of Qamesh Tapa. The United States military is taking steps to enlist the Kurds in a possible war against Saddam Hussein.